The Black-naped Tern is a small to medium-sized slim looking tern species, with a long fork tail, distributed mainly in Tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is distinctive for its white plumage except with a black band from the eyes, which continues in broadening to the nape.

It is a common nesting tern along all the small islet and barren rocky island of Malaysia.

It is a fairly common resident for Penang state, but in small numbers of about 5-10 pairs nesting under the pier and those rock embankment under the first Penang Bridge.